Dispenser box



y 1961 s. ALEXANDER 2,990,950

DISPENSER BOX Filed July 20, 1959 INVENTOR. SAMUEL flLEXA/vDER.

m fla foch HTTORNEY.

United States Patent 2,990,950 DISPENSER BOX Samuel Alexander, 126 Palm St., Hartford, Conn. Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,161 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-57) My invention relates to a dispenser box and more particularly to a cardboard dispensing box such as used 11 both containing and dispensing paper tissues or the Most such tissue dispensing boxes presently in use have a slot or opening in the front panel thereof through which a tissue may be Withdrawn from the box. Generally, the tissues within the box are folded and stacked one upon the other; or they may be partially cut, one from the other, and interfolded so as to provide a physical attachment from one tissue to each succeeding tissue within the box whereby one such tissue always protrudes through the opening in the box, having been drawn therethrough by the previously withdrawn tissue. Thus, each tissue is accessible by grasping and pulling the protruding end thereof. In either case, however, considerable difficulty is inevitably experienced by one attempting to extricate a tissue from its dispensing box. The box is usually displaced or upset upon withdrawing ones hand therefrom while grasping a tissue; or, as in the case of the dispensing box with the interfolded tissues therein, the box, together with the contents, is generally lifted into the air with the partially withdrawn tissue only to fall when the extricated tissue separates from the next succeeding tissue along the semi-cut or perforated division line. It is especially inconvenient to use the present tissue dispensing boxes in hospital rooms or in sick rooms where the inherent inconvenience of the present dispenser boxes is greatly emphasized by the intensified usage of paper tissues under circumstances requiring the maximum in convenience, facility and efliciency.

Much aggravation and inconvenience are likewise experienced by tissue users riding in automobiles, not to mention the danger to which a driver exposes both himself and others by grasping for an elusive, difficult-tomanage tissue dispensing box while traveling on crowded highways.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a tissue dispensing box having means for rigidly securing said box in any convenient location whereby it will be held firmly against movement while withdrawing tissues therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dispensing box with means for detachably affixing said box in tissue dispensing position to irregular as well as to regular surfaces.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tissue dispensing box which may be readily and securely suspended from practically any surface and thereby conveniently positioned and held in tissue dispensing readiness.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensive securing means integral to the dispensing box itself, being a part of the box blank from which the box is constructed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tissue dispensing box which can be utilized in the same manner as conventional boxes, but if desired, can be readily afiixed to a supporting structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dispensing box which incorporates novel and inexpensive securing means yet can be constructed from conventional dispensing box blanks presently being used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dispensing box having securing means as an integral part thereof but which can also be packaged, shipped and stored as readily, simply and conveniently as are conventional tissue dispensing boxes.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood fromthe following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, front view of a tissue dispensing box embodying my present invention illustrating said box as it should be sold to the consumer and user.

FIG. 2 is a similar view of said box in position to be suspended in tissue dispensing readiness from the undersurface of a supporting structure.

FIG. 3 is a similar view of said box, but showing the same in readiness for mounting to the surface of a table, countertop, or the like.

FIG 4 is a plan view of the inner face of the onepiece blank from which the dispensing box of FIG. 1 is constructed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, isometric view illlustrating a tissue dispensing box embodying a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 further illustrating said modified tissue box.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the outer face of the one-piece blank from which the modified tissue dispensing box is constructed.

As shown in the drawing, my invention is embodied in a relatively shallow, elongated, rectangularly shaped box 5 such as is generally used for both storing and dispensing paper tissues. The box 5, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided with a slot 6 in the front panel thereof through which the tissues are drawn. Said box 5 is, as shown in FIG. 4, constructed from a one-piece, flat blank 5-41 of relatively light, durable, and flexible paper material or the equivalent. Said blank includes front and rear panels 7 and 8, respectively; said rear panel having opposed, integral, end sealing panels 9-9 which form a continuation thereof and are foldable about and defined by transverse, scored, fold lines 10-10; and said front panel 7 having opposed, integral, end panels 11- 11 extending therefrom which are foldable about and defined by transverse, scored, fold lines 1212. An integral closure sealing panel 13 is formed along the edge of the rear panel 8 and is foldable about a longitudinal, scored, fold line 14; and an integral side panel 15 is formed along the edge of the front panel 7 and is likewise foldable about, and defined by a longitudinal, scored fold line 16. Opposed, integral, side sealing panels 17-17 extend from both ends of the panel 15, being defined by and foldable about transverse, scored, fold lines 18-18. Between the front and rear panels 7 and 8, respectively, there is provided an intermediate side panel 19 defined by and foldable about longitudinal, scored fold lines 14-a and 16-a, respectively.

In accordance with my invention, and as shown in FIG. 4, the end panels 1111 are provided with integral extensions forrning tabs 2020 which are define-d by and foldable about scored, fold lines 21--21 and are cut from the box blank S-a except at said fold lines. The inside face of each of the tabs 20-40 is coated with a suitable, pressure sensitive adhesive preferably of the type commonly used on cellophane tape or the like. Such pressure sensitive adhesives provide an extremely high adhesive factor per unit of area and readily adhere to smooth and polished surfaces such as glass, varnished wood, steel, etc., with an amazing tenacity. They can be readily attached with only a slight amount of pressure, and also easily detached without marring the smooth, polished surface. The adhesive on the tabs 20-20 may be applied thereto either when the box blank 5-a is in an unfolded condition, after it has been folded into the box 5, or at such other time as manufacturing efliciency, convenience and economy should dictate.

The outside surface of the intermediate side panel 19 is provided at its opposite ends with areas 22-22 onto which the tabs 20-20 may be folded when not in use.

.Said areas 2222 are suitably treated so as to permit frequent refolding of the tabs 20-20 thereon Without a significant loss of adhesiveness.

When the blank -a has been folded and glued in the conventional manner to form the box 5 shown in FIG. 1, the end panels 11-11 form the exterior ends of the box as shown. The tabs 20-20 thus extend beyond the adjacent corners of the box and may be folded about the fold lines 21-21 into engagement with the protective areas 22-22 to be detachably secured thereto in closed position for shipment and sale. The box 5 may be used with the tabs 20-20 in closed position in the same manner and under the same circumstances as any ordinary conventional tissue dispensing box if the user should so choose. However, in addition to the conventional manner, my improved dispensing box is also usable in unexpected and unobvious ways. The tabs 20-20 may be peeled away from the protective areas 22-22 and folded outwardly about the scored fold lines 21-21 to the position shown in FIG. 2 to bring the adhesive surfaces of said tabs into substantially the same plane as the exterior surface of the side panel 19 and into position whereby the box may then be detachably secured to the surface of a supporting structure by merely pressing the tabs against it to cause adherence of the pressure sensitive adhesive thereto.

The novel and unexpected advantages of my improved dispensing box will now be obvious to one skilled in the art. The box 5 may be set on a horizontal or inclined supporting surface and rigidly affixed thereto in tissue dispensing position as shown in FIG. 3, yet may be easily and conveniently detached for repositioning if desired. Likewise, said box may be securely suspended from the underside of a supporting surface in the position shown in FIG. 2, or against a vertical or near vertical surface by the simple process of pressing the open tabs 20-20 into contact therewith. It is to be noted that at no time will my improved dispensing box become displaced or upset, as so frequently occurs with conventional dispensing boxes, when merely removing a tissue therefrom, not even when hurriedly seizing such tissue and hastily withdrawing it.

My improved tissue dispensing box is particularly useful in automobiles or other vehicles requiring great care in the operation thereof, and directly adds immeasurably to the safety of both the driver and the occupants of such vehicles. In automobiles, said dispensing box 5 may be suspended from the underside of the dash panel, or other convenient location within easy reach of the operator, thereby avoiding the necessity of his having to divert his attention from traffic while searching or reaching about the car for a tissue dispensing box that shifts position With every sudden movement of the automobile. It is to be noted that the tabs 20-20 readily adapt to the configuration of the supporting surface since the suggested material for the box blank 5a is flexible, as Well as durable. The increased convenience, range of use and adaptability of my dispenser box gained thereby is readily apparent.

In FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawing, I have illustrated a box embodying a modification of the present invention. Said box, indicated by the numeral 5-b, is substantially the same as the box 5 and is provided at its opposite ends with tabs 20-a-20-a similar to the tabs 20-20 previously described. The box 5-b is constructed from a blank 5c (see FIG. 7) which is identical to the blank 5-a shown in FIG. 4 except that the tabs 20-a-20-a form extensions of the panel 19 rather than of the panels 11-11 and are foldable about and defined by transverse fold lines 21a-21-a. The tabs 20-a-20-a are cut from the blank 5-0 except along said fold lines. The outer surface of each of said tabs is coated in the same manner and with the same adhesive as hereinbefore described for the tabs 20-20. The modified form of my improved dispenser box made from the blank 5-c takes the same form and shape, and functions in all pertinent respects as does the dispensing box made from the blank 5a shown in FIG. 4.

It is to be noted that While my improved dispenser box provides many novel and useful advantages and conveniences not heretofore provided in conventional dispenser boxes, it can be made from substantially the same equipment, the same material and even the same basic box blank shape as used for such conventional boxes. Therefore, the many advantages of my invention may be provided without the requirement of costly redesigning and tooling. It is also to be noted that tissue dispensing boxes incorporating my invention may be packaged, shipped and stored in the same manner as conventional boxes, without the requirement of additional space or new equipment and techniques.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention and a modification thereof, it is understood that various changes may be made in details of construction, materials, etc., Without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

In a tissue dispensing box adapted to be removably fastened to a supporting surface, said box being constructed from an integrally formed blank of cardboardlike sheet material and including side panels, end panels, a rear panel and a front panel, a tissue dispensing opening in one of said panels, a selected one of said panels forming a support engaging panel, a pair of opposed tabs integrally formed from said blank and positioned at the opposite ends of said support engaging panel, said tabs being foldable about their edges from a position against said support engaging panel to a position extending outwardly from said panel and in the plane thereof, means providing a protective area on those portions of said support engaging panel adjacent each of said tabs, said ta-bs each having pressure sensitive adhesive on the face which is foldable against its protective area, and each tab being normally detachably secured to its respective protective area by said adhesive, said protective areas being suitably treated to permit said tabs to be stripped therefrom and folded outwardly from said box, whereby when said box is applied to a supporting surface and the tabs extended the adhesive faces of said tabs and said protective areas will be in contact with said supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,189 Pauli Oct. 9, 1934 2,023,542 Peck Dec. 10, 1935 2,096,107 Haggerty Oct. 19, 1937 2,913,104 Parker Nov. 17, 1959 

